Automatic water gate installation

ABSTRACT

The passage in which an automatic gate for constant upstream level control is installed, is formed at its entry end with vertical partitions disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of such passage, and the angles formed by such vertical partitions and the side walls of the passage are truncated by oblique faces, the intersections of which with such passage side walls are in close proximity to the side edges of the gate apron.

United States Patent 1 Dubouchet Aug. 21, 1973 1 AUTOMATIC WATER GATE INSTALLATION [75] Inventor: Jacques L. Dubouchet, Larchmont,

[73] Assignee: Societe Generale de Constructions Electriques et Mechaniques (Alsthom), Grenoble, France [22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 107,088

[30.] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 20, 1970 France 7001836 [52] 11.8. C1. 61/25 [51] Int. Cl E02b 7/40 [58] Field of Search 61/22, 25, 23, 24, 61/26, 27, 28, 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,130,097 3/1915 Meikle 61/23 2,616,266 11/1952 Hale 61/25 933,856 9/1909 Shotwell et a1. 3,168,814 2/1965 Hurlburt 61/25 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 747,149 3/1956 Great Britain 61/25 Primary Examiner-Mervin Stein Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Sylvester J. Liddy, John .1. Hart and Charles E. Baxley [5 7] 3 ABSTRACT The passage in which an automatic gate for constant upstream level control is installed, is formed at its entry end with vertical partitions disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of such passage, and the angles formed by such vertical partitions and the side walls of the passage are truncated by oblique faces, the intersections of which with such passage side walls are in close proximity to the side edges of the gate apron.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUmz: an

SHEEI 1 0F 2 FIG. I

PRIOR ART INVENTOR JACQ 4/551. 005000157" Arron/er FIG. 2

TOPPLE TOWER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I shall call my invention the Topple Tower since this describes the form of the structure and the falling action by which it is put into effect or executed.

The substance of my invention is best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the tower in the upright position. This is the position in which it is constructed, and in which it remains unless or until felled into a horizontal position as an obstacle. In its preferred form, it is fabricated of steel reinforced concrete on a reinforced concrete or masonry foundation. It consists of an elongated trunk-like structure with a plurality of projecting limbs as shown in the drawing. In its preferred form, the tower's height may be expected to be some 70 to 100 feet, but may be larger or smaller. Other proportions are about as shown on the drawings, in which the tower itself is about 6 feet in thickness, tapering to about 4 feet at the top. In this example the projecting limbs are shown about 8 feet long, about 4 feet thick where they join the central structure, and taper to about 2 feet thickness at their extremeties.

The tower remains in the upright position until the obstacle is needed. Should an enemy attack be launched or known to be imminent, and upon the decision of the commander of friendly forces; the obstacle is quickly executed by detonating an explosive charge in a chamber or chambers which are built into the base of the tower. To facilitate felling the tower and causing it to fall in the desired direction, the base of the tower is constructed in two or more separate parts. See FIG. 2 and 3 which depict a preferred form of the tower base showing the chambers for explosive. Chambers are indicated by the letter A." When an explosive charge is detonated in the chamber or chambers, part of the tower base is destroyed causing the tower to topple or fall in the direction of the portion of the base destroyed by the explosive charge. This permits the structure to block the area or passage desired. In many cases, a series of towers will be constructed so that when felled they will either join or overlap to form a continuous barrier across a threatened area or avenue of approach.

As FIG. 1 indicates (in the preferred configuration) the trunk of the tower tapers from base to top. Along its length, at intervals are groups of projecting limbs 1 1 set at approximately right angles to each other and to the trunk of the tower. These limbs are of the same material as the tower and are employed for two reasons: firstly, the limbs projecting from the tower on the sides toward which it falls are designed to be driven into the earth by the weight of the tower structure and the force of its fall, thus anchoring the obstacle in place and rendering its removal more difficult. Secondly, those limbs on the opposite sides will be projecting upward and outward extending the height and breadth of the obstacle, rendering it more difficult to surmountby any vehicle or mechanical device. Moreover, attachments are to be built into the structure, in the form of metal studs, rings or clamps, to which coils of barbed wire are attached. The reinforced concrete limbs, mentioned above, serve to support and stabilize the aforementioned barbed wire entanglements which add to the antipersonnel value of the obstacle and inhibit enemy breaching operations.

FIG. 4 shows the tower in vertical cross section and a typical location for the attachments for barbed wire coils. Attachments are indicated by the letter B.

FIG. 5 shows an end-on cross sectional view of the tower after it is felled into its position as an obstacle. The lower projecting limbs are shown imbedded in the earth and indicated by the letter C." The limbs from the other side of the structure are shown projecting upward and outward and are indicated by the letter D."

Coils of barbed wire are shown in the preferred position at the junction of the limbs along the trunk of the tower and indicated by the letter E. The height of the obstacle as shown is about 15 feet, but nothing used in this description is intended to limit the total size or proportions used in this type obstacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Military engineers customarily employ many types of obstacles to stop or delay the attack of enemy forces. In more recent times the most vexing problem is that of providing an efiective barrier against enemy tanks. One of the most critical aspects of this is posed by the threat of surprise attack which would severely restrict the time available to construct presently known types of obstacles.

Present types of obstacles such as abatis, minefields, road craters and demolition of bridges are not readily adaptable to peacetime construction because of one or more disadvantages such as high maintenance requirements, interference with movement and transportation, desruption of the economic use of land, the rendering of considerable areas hazardous to persons and domestic animals and other characteristics which limit their use tocertain locations.

Army Field Manuals provide descriptions of currently used barriers and obstacles. In order to provide a frame of reference for appreciation of my invention I will enumerate the principal disadvantages of present obstacle types.

Antitank ditch this obstacle is an obstruction to peacetime movement if constructed before hostilities. It interferes with land usage and moreover is relatively ineffective as a military obstacle since it is easily overcome by use ofportable bridging.

Dragons teeth" These are likewise obstacles to peacetime movement and land use and since they are relatively low they may be breached by portable bridging or ramped over with earth by a bulldozer.

Minefield This obstacle removes a large area of land from peacetime use. The most thorough precautions cannot guarantee the prevention of accidents. High maintenance costs are inherent and a loss of effectiveness occurs when the ground freezes during winter months or when the field is covered with heavy snow.

Abatis This obstacle can only be constructed V where trees of proper size exist and it requires considerable time for preparation.

Crater This obstacle requires careful site selection. There are a limited number of places where a crater can be effective. It is only useful in places where adjacent terrain conditions prevent passage around the obstacle.

Most of these obstacle types are unsuitable for emplacement before hostilities for various reasons and since their preparation is time consuming it is unlikely that they could be emplaced in an emergency. The

erection of an effective barrier using present obstacle types requires several days and the efforts of many hundreds of men.

The intended mode of employment of my invention consists of the construction of a series of towers designed as l have described during peacetime. These would be located so that when felled they would block roads at defiles. A complete barrier system would employ a series of towers located so that when felled they would form a series of continuous obstacles, blocking all tank passable terrain. Generally, such a barrier system would be emplaced in the vicinity of and along a threatened frontier such as that between East and West Germany, between North and South Korea, along the borders of Israel, Northern Greece, Eastern Turkey or any similar boundary between potentially hostile states and nations having mutual defense treaties with the United States.

The advantages of the obstacle, the invention of which I am disclosing is that once constructed it remains in place, ready for use, indefinitely, with virtually no maintenance, and no inconvenience or danger to persons or property. In the event of an attack the felling of the tower or towers will require but a few minutes.

If a period of tension precedes an attack, a state of high readiness can be attained by pre-placing the explosive charges, locking or sealing them in the chambers described. When the attack occurs, the charges can be tired electrically from a remote location if desired.

While the location and purpose of the towers can probably not be kept secret from a potential enemy this is not a serious drawback from a tactical point of view. From a political viewpoint the existence of such a potential barrier may deter aggression by reducing the chances of a successful surprise attack.

The construction of the towers involves commonly employed engineering techniques. A sturdy foundation is constructed, the reinforcing steel is installed and 4 forms for the concrete are erected on the usual way. A dense concrete is poured into the forms, probably employing a bucket crane as in the construction of concrete dams or bridge piers. The concrete is allowed to cure and the forms are removed.

The effectiveness of this obstacle stems firstly from the rapidity with which it may be executed and secondly from its size and design. It is massive, weighing many tons. Its protruding limbs are imbedded in the earth, rendering it nearly impossible to move. Other protruding limbs extend upward and outward, to a height and breadth of 15 or more feet. This renders it virtually impossible to surmount the obstacle with portable bridging. There are many recently developed items of tank mounted equipment designed to breach minefields and other present obstacles. None of these methods however is designed to cope with the type obstacle which I am proposing in this disclosure.

1 claim:

1. An upright tower adapted to be felled to provide a barrier to impede the movement of armored vehicles comprising an elongated trunk-like structure made of steel-reinforcedconcrete supported on a tower base, said elongated trunk being formed to include, at intervals along its length, groups of projecting limbs set at approximately a right angle to the axis of the trunk, said tower base including chamber means adapted to receive explosives for destroying a portion of the tower base to thereby fell the tower when the explosives are detonated.

2. A tower as recited in claim 1 in which said projecting limbs are positioned at approximately right angles to one another.

3. A tower as recited in claim 2 in which said base is constructed in two or more separate parts with at least one of said parts being formed with said chamber means for the reception of said explosives.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTKFICATE 0F GO'RECTIQN Patent No. 3,753,353 Dated August 21, 1973 I Inventor(s) Jacques L. Dubouchet It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Cancel columns 1-14. of the patent and substitute the attached columns l-L Signed and sealed this 26th day of February 19711..

SEAL Atte S t 2 EDWARD M .FIETCHER JR C MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC seen-Pee i 0.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFHCE: "I, 0-366-334, q C

This invention relates to automatic gate installations such as are used to control the flow of water in canals.

installations of the indicated type are usually constructed of narrowed passages so that gates of reduced dimension may be used for reasons of economy of construction even though head losses may be substantial. in order to obtain a good flow into the entry end of such a passage it has been customary to progressively narrow such entry end so that it resembles an elongated funnel. This type of construction however, has a distinct disadvantage when used with gates designed to automatically maintain a constant water level upstream therefrom and having for this purpose control floats lo cated on the upstream faces of the aprons thereof. This is due to the fact that in the elongated funnel-shaped type of entry heretofore used, the localized increase in speed of the flow resulting therefrom causes a lowering in level of the water discharging through the opening passage. Thus, the automatic gate does not control the level in the canal, as desired, but rather the level in the narrowed passage. it has been found that because of this condition, the level in the upstream reach of the canal will be higher than in the narrowed passage to an amount dependent upon the flow rate.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a narrowed passage for automatic gates of the indicated type which is so constructed that the creation of a localized excessive speed of flow therethrough will.

not result in a significant change in the level of the flow at the entry thereof, thereby enabling the float on the gate apron to react to the true level to be controlled so that the gate therefore controls the level of the canal. Applicant has found by tests that such a construction can be attained, while maintaining an acceptable hydraulic performance (reduced head losses, maximum flow), if the entry end of the narrowed passage is formed by two vertical partitions which are disposed perpendicular to the axis of the canal, and the angle of which to the inclined side walls of the narrowed passage are truncated by at least one cut face whose intersection with the associated passage side wall is near and formed by the gate apron and the sill provided in the l at a minimal distance from the line of contact of the gate fitted in a canal in the customary fashion;

FIG.' 2 is a view similar to FIG. ll showing an auto-- matic gate fitted in a canal in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view showing in enlargcd detail the structure of MG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, vertical sectional view of the entry portion of a narrowed passageway of dil ferent construction in accordance with the invention: and

5 vertical wall to the bottom wall or surface W of the naf- FlG. l is a diagrammatic plan view of an automatic bottom connection surface l0 which inclines upwardly Referring, now to H0. l oFthe drawings, in the CH5 tomary construction therein illustrated, the reference G indicates generally an automatic gate mounted in a reduced section or passageway 3 of a canal C in which the water flows in the direction of the arrow F. The gate 6 is constructed to maintain automatically a constant water level upstream from the sector-shaped apron 1 thereof and for this purpose is provided with a control float on the upstream face of its apron ll. ltwill be noted that in accordance with conventional practice, the reduced section 3 is connected to the upstream reach 6 of the canal C by along funnel 5 whose crosssectional area is progressively reduced from that of the canal to that of the reduced section. As a result of such construction there is produced in the reduced section 3 an increased rate of flow with a consequent fall in level which will vary in relation to the rate of discharge of the water past the apron ll. Since the float 2 is located in the passageway 25, it will in effect cause the gate to regulate the level in such passageway and not the level of the upstream reach in of the canal C which consequently will vary according to the rate of flow.

As is shown in FlCi. 2 of the drawings, the present invention contemplates foreshortening the entry or up-' stream end of the narrow passageway 3 to provide a short connection generally designated 1 which does not modify the level of the canal flow by a localized speed increase, as in the case of the long funnel 5. Accord-v ingly, by placing the apron ll of the gate (3 closely adjacent to the inner end of this short connection 7 in ac cor-dance with the invention, the gate will correctly control the level of the upstream reach dot the canal. in Fifi. 3 ofthe drawings, there is shown in detail a structural embodiment of the short connection 7 depicted generally in H6. 2. in H6. 3, as in FIGS. 1 and p i 2, the canal is generally designated C, the narrowed canal section is generally designated 33., the gate is generally desipiated G, and the flow of water in the canal is indicated by the arrow F, The portion 4 of the canal adjacent to the upstrearnend of the narrowed canal section 3 is separated from the latter by a vertical wall disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis'of-the canal and constituted of two vertical side sections 8,8.

The short connection generally designated 7, is constituted of inclined or truncated surfaces g of generally triangular shape located between and cut out'of what would be the junctures of the inner edges of the vertical wall sections 3 and the side walls id of the marrowed section 3, and disposed at obtuse angles to such wall sections it and side walls lid. The apexes of the surfaces are adjacent to and short of the tops of the wall sections 8 and their bases adjoin the ends of an inclined from the raised bottom edge of the entry opening in the rowed section 3 (note lFlG. il.

it will be noted that the intersection of each cut face Q with the associated side wall lid of the narrowed-sec tion .53 is a straight line l5 which may be readily constructed in the surfacing concrete. it is to be noted also that such line llS'is at a minimal distance from the line of contact which the adjacent edge of the sectorshaped apron ll of the gate makes with such associated side wall id. The gate (3 is constructed as an automatic. I

Midstre m onstant level control mate of a known type 106046 ONE 174 01 FIG. 3, each side of such connection is formed of two cut faces 12 and 13'. The cut face 13 is generally triangular in the manner of cut face 9, but it is not as high as'the latter so that the apex of the cut face 13 is located a substantial distance below the top of the narrowed section 3. The cut face 12 widens the entry opening in the transverse wall so that the areas of the .vertical sections 8 thereof are considerably reduced. lt-

might be said that the angle or connection 7 between the transverse or vertical wall and the narrowed section 3 is formed by providing on each side thereof at the entry end of section 3 a first cut face 12 whose intersection with the associated side wall 18 of the narrowed section 3 is cut in its lower area by a second cut face l3. Thus, instead of a substantially straight line of intersection l5 between the short connection 7 and the narrowed section 3 as in the construction of FIG. 3, the line of intersection of the faces 12 and 13 with an inner wall 18 of the narrowed section 3 will be composed of an angular or polygonal line 16,17. However, as in the case of the straight line of intersection 15, the angular line 16,17 is located at a minimal distance from the line of contact 14 of the gate apron 1 (note FIG. 4).

What is claimed is:

l. The combination of a canal having a narrowed section for installation of a water gate, a water gate mounted in said narrowed section and having a sectorshaped apron provided with a control-float so that such gate will maintain automatically at constant water level upstream therefrom, and a foreshortened entry connection between the canal and the upstream end of said narrowed section, said gate being mounted in said narrowed section so that said apron thereof is located a minimal distance from the intersection of the downstream end of said entry connection with said narrowed section, the upstream end of said entry connection having a cross-sectional areasubstantially greater than that of the downstream end thereof, but substantially less than that of the adjoining part of the canal, and the bottom and side walls of said entry connection being constituted of angular surfaces and beingof s'uch shortness in the direction of flow of the water that such surfaces produce a maximum increase in speed of the flow through such entry connection without producing any noticeable modification in the entry level of the flow w into said narrowed section. v

2. The combination of a canal having a narrowed secsnid narrowed canal section sloping, a water gate mounted in said narrowed section and having a sectorshaped apron provided with a control float so that such gate will maintain automatically a constant water level upstream therefrom, and a foreshortened entry connection betweenthe canal and the upstream end of said narrowed section, said gate being mounted in said narrowed section so that said apron thereof is located a 4 minimal distance from said entry connection, and said entry connection being constituted of angular surfaces of such shortness that the increase in speed of the flow through such entry connection does not produce any noticeable modification of water level in front of the gate-the upstream end of said entry connection being composed of vertical partition walls on each side of the canal and disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the canal, the angle formed between each of said partition walls and an associated sloping side wall of said narrowed section, and constituting one side of said foreshortened entry connection, being truncated, the intersection of such truncation with such associated narrowed'section side wall being in close proximity and at said minimal distance from the line of contact of an edge of said gate apron with such associated narrowed section side wall.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, in which said truncation comprises a substantially triangularlyshaped surface, the base of which forms the lower porv tion of said one side of said entry connection.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, in which the apex of said triangularly-shaped surface is short of the height of said one side of said entry connection.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, including on each side of said entry connection, a second surface located between a partition wall and said triangularly shaped surface below the apex of the latter, said second 6. The combination of a canal having a narrowed section for installation of a water gate, the side walls-of 'apron provided with a control float so that such gate will maintain automatically a constant water level up-- stream therefrom, and a foreshortened entry connection between the canal and the upstream end of-said narrowed section, said gate being mounted in said narrowed section so that said apron thereof is located a minimal distance from said entry connection, and said entry connection being constituted of angular surfaces.

of such shortness that the increase in speed of the'flow through such entry connection does not produce'any noticeable modification of water level in front of the gate the upstream end of said entry connection being p composed of vertical partition walls on each side of the canal and disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the canal, the angle formed between each of said partition walls and an associated side wall of said narrowed section, and constituting one side of said foreshortened I g I tion for installation of a water gate, the side walls of fi fla on. ng'truncated by a fitit ce the intersection between which and such associated side wall is cut in its lower area by a second cut face, the angular sections of the line forming the intersection of the two cut faces and the sidewall being 7 '50 close together and at said minimal distance from the line ofcontact ofan edgeofsaid gate apron with such in o". o

surface above such apex intersecting with the associ said narrowed section sloping, a water gate mounted in said narrowed sectionand having a sector-shaped UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF' CORRECTION Patent No. 353 Dated August 1973 Jacques L. Dubochet Inventor s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In column '1, after last line, insert the following:

-- Fig. 5 is a top diagrammatic view of the construction shown in Fig.

In column .2, line A8, "marrowed" should be narrowed In column 2, after last line, in which the control float 2 is mounted on the upstream face of the gate apron 1'. The water level at the float 2, is inserted.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of November 1974,

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. Atteating Officer C MARSHALL "DANN Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) a as, covzmmsm PRINTING orncz; n0 o-als-au. 

1. The combination of a canal having a narrowed section for installation of a water gate, a water gate mounted in said narrowed section and having a sector-shaped apron provided with a control float so that such gate will maintain automatically a constant water level upstream therefrom, and a foreshortened entry connection between the canal and the upstream end of said narrowed section, said gate being mounted in said narrowed section so that said apron thereof is located a minimal distance from the intersection of the downstream end of said entry connection with said narrowed section, the upstream end of said entry connection having a cross-sectional area substantially greater than that of the downstream end thereof, but substantially less than that of the adjoining part of the canal, and the bottom and side walls of said entry connection being constituted of angular surfaces and being of such shortness in the direction of flow of the water that such surfaces produce a maximum increase in speed of the flow through such entry connection without producing any noticeable modification in the entry level of the flow into said narrowed section.
 2. The combination of a canal having a narrowed section for installation of a water gate, the side walls of said narrowed canal section sloping, a water gate mounted in said narrowed section and having a sector-shaped apron provided with a control float so that such gate will maintain automatically a constant water level upstream therefrom, and a foreshortened entry connection between the canal and the upstream end of said narrowed section, said gate being mounted in said narrowed section so that said apron thereof is located a minimal distance from said entry connection, and said entry connection being constituted of angular surfaces of such shortness that the increase in speed of the flow through such entry connection does not produce any noticeable modification of water level in front of the gate the upstream end of said entry connection being composed of vertical partition walls on each side of the canal and disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the canal, the angle formed between each of said partition walls and an associated sloping side wall of said narrowed section, and cOnstituting one side of said foreshortened entry connection, being truncated, the intersection of such truncation with such associated narrowed section side wall being in close proximity and at said minimal distance from the line of contact of an edge of said gate apron with such associated narrowed section side wall.
 3. The combination defined in claim 2, in which said truncation comprises a substantially triangularly-shaped surface, the base of which forms the lower portion of said one side of said entry connection.
 4. The combination defined in claim 3, in which the apex of said triangularly-shaped surface is short of the height of said one side of said entry connection.
 5. The combination defined in claim 4, including on each side of said entry connection, a second surface located between a partition wall and said triangularly-shaped surface below the apex of the latter, said second surface above such apex intersecting with the associated section side wall so that each side of said entry connection forms an angular line of intersection with a side wall of said narrowed section.
 6. The combination of a canal having a narrowed section for installation of a water gate, the side walls of said narrowed section sloping, a water gate mounted in said narrowed section and having a sector-shaped apron provided with a control float so that such gate will maintain automatically a constant water level upstream therefrom, and a foreshortened entry connection between the canal and the upstream end of said narrowed section, said gate being mounted in said narrowed section so that said apron thereof is located a minimal distance from said entry connection, and said entry connection being constituted of angular surfaces of such shortness that the increase in speed of the flow through such entry connection does not produce any noticeable modification of water level in front of the gate the upstream end of said entry connection being composed of vertical partition walls on each side of the canal and disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the canal, the angle formed between each of said partition walls and an associated side wall of said narrowed section, and constituting one side of said foreshortened entry connection, being truncated by a first face cut, the intersection between which and such associated side wall is cut in its lower area by a second cut face, the angular sections of the line forming the intersection of the two cut faces and the associated side wall being close together and at said minimal distance from the line of contact of an edge of said gate apron with such associated side wall. 